Bengaluru: BJP candidate BN Vijayakuma dies, election countermanded

BJP candidate for the assembly polls BN Vijayakumar died of a massive heart attack at a hospital here today following which the Election Commission has countermanded the election in the city constituency represented by him.

A sitting MLA, 59-year-old Vijayakumar collapsed during an election campaign in his Jayanagar constituency and was shifted to government-run Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, where efforts to resuscitate him failed, state BJP join spokesman S Prakash told PTI.

Vijayakumar, a two-time MLA, had held organisational posts of the party city unit.

The election process in Jayanagar has been countermanded and the new dates will be announced later, according to an order of the Additional District Electoral Officer.

Elections to the 224-member Karnataka assembly will be held on May 12.

Vijayakumar was popular for his impeccable integrity and unblemished track record in public life, He would often say that it was his party which contests elections on his behalf as he has no money to fight the electoral battle.

Expressing grief over the death, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananthkumar broke down before the media.

"His demise is a major loss to Karnataka. He was an ardentRSS activist since his childhood who devoted his life tosociety and nation," he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed shock over the death of Vijayakumar and said such personalities were needed in public life.